Lesson 24: Matthew 21:17–22:14
Introduction
After staying the night in the
village of Bethany, Jesus returned to the temple. On His way, He cursed a fig
tree. Leaders of the Jews came to Him in the temple and questioned His
authority. Jesus reproved them and taught several parables that illustrate the
consequences of rejecting or accepting Him and His gospel.
I.
Matthew 21:17–32
Jesus curses a fig tree and reproves the leaders of the Jews
---Before class, write the following
question on the board:
What are some times when you
discovered that something was not as good as it appeared to be?
---Who would
like to share their responses to the question on the board?
---Matthew 21 presents an account of a time when
Jesus Christ encountered something
that was not as good as it appeared to be. Look for truths in Matthew 21 that can guide us not only to
appear righteous to others but also to actually live righteously.
---After Jesus made His triumphal
entry into Jerusalem and cleansed the temple, He stayed in Bethany, a small
village near Jerusalem.
---Read Matthew 21:18–22
looking for what the Savior did the next day as He traveled from Bethany back
to the temple in Jerusalem.
- What did the Savior do to the fig tree?
Fig tree
© Jose Ramiro
Laguna/Shutterstock.com
---Display a picture of a fig tree
with leaves.
---The leaves on a fig tree normally
indicate that the tree has fruit. In the spring (when the Savior encountered
the fig tree that was barren of fruit), fig trees generally produce early figs.
If they do not, it means they will not produce any fruit during that year. The
tree described in this account had the appearance of being a fruit-producing tree,
but it had not produced any fruit. One reason the Savior may have cursed the
fig tree was to teach His disciples about the corrupt religious leaders of the
Jews.
- Based on what you have learned about the Jewish religious leaders in the Savior’s day, how were many of them like the fig tree described in this account? (They gave the appearance of following God but failed to produce actual fruits, or works, of righteousness.)
---In Matthew 21:23–27 some of these Jewish leaders
approached the Savior in the temple and questioned the authority by which He
had made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem and cleansed the temple. The Savior
responded by asking them whether the baptism (or ministry) of
John the Baptist had been commissioned by God or by man. These leaders would
not answer the Savior’s question for fear of condemning themselves or offending
people who accepted John as a prophet. The Savior said He would not answer
their questions either and then related three parables that illustrate the
actions of the corrupt Jewish leaders. The first parable describes the
different ways in which two sons responded to their father.
- Which of the sons was more like the Jewish leaders? In what way?
---Read Matthew 21:31–32
looking for what the Savior taught the corrupt Jewish leaders through this
parable. (publicans were tax collectors and that harlots were prostitutes.
Jewish leaders looked down on both of these groups of people, considering them
to be sinners.)
- How were the publicans and harlots like the first son?
- What truth can we learn from the Savior’s teachings about who will enter the kingdom of God? (Students may use different words but should identify a truth similar to the following: To enter the kingdom of God, we must obey our Heavenly Father and repent of our sins rather than only saying or pretending that we obey Him.)
---To help students understand the
relevance of this truth, invite a student to read aloud the following scenario:
A young man often tells his parents
that he is attending Church activities when he actually goes to a friend’s
house instead. When he is around Church leaders and instructors, he talks and
acts as though he keeps Heavenly Father’s commandments, but outside of those
settings he knowingly breaks many of the commandments.
- How could this young man’s choices prevent him from entering the kingdom of God?
- If you were this young man’s friend, what might you say to him to help him change his behavior?
---Invite another student to read
aloud the following scenario:
A young woman gossips with her
friends about several girls in her school but pretends to be friendly to these
girls when they are around. She regularly attends church and partakes of the sacrament, but during the
meetings she often sends her friends text messages containing criticisms of
those around her.
- In what ways might this young woman merely be pretending to keep Heavenly Father’s commandments?
- In addition to the examples in these scenarios, what are other ways we might be tempted to pretend to obey Heavenly Father rather than actually obeying Him?
---As we continue to study Matthew 21 look for what you can do to avoid being like
the fig tree that produced no fruit.
II.
Matthew 21:33–22:14 Jesus teaches the parables of the wicked
husbandmen and the marriage of the king’s son
---Divide students into pairs. If
possible, provide each pair with a copy of the following chart.
---Read Matthew 21:33–41 aloud together with their
partners and complete the chart by writing what they think the final three
symbols represent.
The
Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen
Symbol
|
Meaning
|
Householder
|
Heavenly Father
|
Husbandmen
|
|
Servants
|
|
The householder’s son
|
|
© 2015 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
All rights reserved.
---After students have completed
this activity, invite several pairs to report what they wrote. As needed,
clarify that the husbandmen represent the corrupt Israelite leaders, the
servants represent God’s prophets, and the householder’s son represents Jesus
Christ.
- What was Jesus illustrating through this parable? (Over the centuries some of the leaders of Israel had rejected Old Testament prophets, and the present Jewish leaders intended to kill Jesus [see New Testament Student Manual (Church Educational System manual, 2014), 65]).
---Read Matthew 21:43
looking for who would be given the kingdom of God (meaning the Church of Jesus
Christ and the blessings of the gospel) after the Jewish leaders had rejected
it.
- To whom would the kingdom of God be given?
---The Joseph Smith Translation, of Matthew
21:53, identifies the Gentiles as the nation to whom the kingdom of
God would be given. You may want to explain that the word Gentile can refer to
“people of non-Israelite … [or] non-Jewish lineage” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Gentiles,” scriptures.lds.org) or nations that do not have the fulness of God’s
authority, ordinances, laws, and teachings. The transfer of the kingdom to the
Gentiles began when the gospel was first taken to the Gentiles by the Apostles
after the Savior’s Resurrection
(see Acts 10–11; see also Matthew 20:16).
It has continued in the last days with the Restoration of the gospel through
the Prophet Joseph Smith, who lived in a Gentile nation. As
members of Jesus Christ’s Church, we are among those to whom God has given His
kingdom.
- According to verse 43, what are we responsible to do as members of the Church of Jesus Christ? (Make sure students identify something similar to the following truth: As members of the Church of Jesus Christ, we are responsible to bring forth fruits of righteousness. Using students’ words, write this principle on the board.)
---Come to the board and draw pictures
of fruit on the fig tree. Label the fruit with words describing righteous
things that we should do as members of the Church of Jesus Christ.
- Why do you think it is important for us to bring forth that fruit?
- How have you been blessed as you have tried to bring forth one of these fruits of righteousness?
---In Matthew 21:45–46 the chief priests and Pharisees
became angry when they realized that the wicked husbandmen in the parable
represented them. However, they refrained from laying hands on the Savior
because they feared the people’s reaction if they did so.
---In Matthew 22:1–10 we read that Jesus Christ related
a parable in which He compared the blessings of the gospel to a wedding feast a
king gave for his son. The people who were first invited to the feast (who
represent many of the Jews, including the leaders) refused to come. Those who
were invited next (who represent the Gentiles) chose to come and enjoy the
feast.
- Why was this guest cast out from the feast?
---The king had fulfilled an ancient
custom by giving his guests clean and appropriate clothing to wear at the
wedding. However, this man had chosen not to wear the clothing the king had
provided.
- In this parable, what might the wedding garments represent? (You may want to explain that in the scriptures, clean garments and robes often symbolize the righteousness and purity of those who have become clean through the Atonement of Jesus Christ [see New Testament Student Manual (Church Educational System manual, 2014), 66; see also 3 Nephi 27:19].)
---The Joseph Smith Translation of Matthew 22:14 adds that not everyone at the feast
will be wearing the wedding garment (see footnote b). In other words, not everyone
who acknowledges the Savior, is called, and accepts the invitation to be part
of the kingdom will be prepared and worthy to dwell eternally with Him and
Heavenly Father. Some will have disqualified themselves from rich blessings
because they are not clothed with the garment of righteousness.
- How does this parable further illustrate the principle written on the board?
---Testify of the importance of the
eternal blessings we have been invited to receive.
---Ponder what you are currently
doing to accept Heavenly Father’s invitation to receive all of the blessings of
the gospel. Apply what you have learned by preparing yourselves to receive
these blessings.
Commentary
and Background Information
Matthew
21:19–22. Cursing the fig tree
The Savior’s cursing of the fig tree
taught several important lessons. The fig tree could serve as a representation
of the corrupt religious leaders of the Jews, who made an outward show of piety
but lacked true righteousness. In this vein, the event taught that all of us
must strive to live our lives in a manner that is consistent with what we
believe and teach. Cursing the fig tree also provided a visual illustration of
the lesson the Savior taught earlier in His ministry with the parable of the
fig tree (see Luke 13:6–9): all must repent or perish. After
witnessing the disciples’ reaction to the cursing of the fig tree, the Savior
also used this occasion to teach them about the power of faith to work even
greater miracles than the one they had just witnessed.
Matthew
21:42–44. “The stone which the builders rejected”
Jesus
Christ is “the stone which the builders rejected” (Matthew 21:42) and became the cornerstone of the
kingdom of God on the earth (see Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:19–20). The Savior’s instruction
about those who fall on the stone being broken refers to the fact that rather
than building their lives on this stone (see Helaman 5:12), the Jews would stumble and fall on
it (see Isaiah 8:14; 1 Corinthians 1:23). They would be broken,
or destroyed, for failing to accept Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God and for
failing to accept His gospel. The stone falling on others refers to the Savior
destroying those who would reject Him. (See Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 21:47–56 [in
the Bible appendix].)
Right margin extras:
Sharing
thoughts, feelings, and experiences
Sharing insights and relevant
experiences can help clarify students’ understanding of doctrines and
principles. As students share their experiences, the Holy Ghost often leads
them to a deeper understanding and testimony of the very thoughts they are
expressing. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, the thoughts, feelings, and
experiences students share can also have a significant impact on the hearts and
minds of other students.
Lesson 25: Matthew 22:15–46
Introduction
While Jesus continued teaching at
the temple, the Pharisees and the Sadducees tried to entrap Him by asking Him
difficult questions. He successfully responded to their questions and taught
them to obey the laws of the land and to keep the two great commandments.
I.
Matthew 22:15–22
The Pharisees try to entrap the Savior by asking Him if it is lawful
to pay tribute
- What are some important laws the government has established in our society? Why do you think they are important?
---Silently consider if there are
any laws you don’t obey as well as you should. As we study Matthew 22:15–22, look for what Jesus Christ taught about
obeying the laws of the land.
---Remember that during the last
week of the Savior’s life, He taught daily at the temple in Jerusalem (see Luke 19:47; 22:53).
- What does the phrase “entangle him in his talk” mean?
---Read Matthew 22:16–17
and look for how the Pharisees tried to trick the Savior. The word tribute in verse 17 means taxes, and Caesar was the emperor
of the Roman Empire, which ruled over Israel at that time.
- How was the question they asked Jesus Christ a potential trap? (If the Savior said it was right to pay taxes to the Roman Empire, the Jews would consider Him a supporter of Rome and disloyal to His own people. If the Savior told them it was not lawful to pay taxes, the Pharisees could accuse Jesus of treason and report Him to the Roman authorities.)
---Read Matthew 22:18–21
and look for how the Savior responded to the Pharisees’ question. The phrase
“render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s” in verse 21 refers to our obligation to obey
civil laws, such as the law to pay taxes. Hold up a coin and ask:
- Why was the Savior’s answer a perfect response to the Pharisees’ question?
- What truth can we learn from the Savior’s teaching that we should “render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s”? (Students may use different words, but make sure they identify the following truth: The Lord expects us to be good citizens and obey the laws of the land [see also Articles of Faith 1:12].)
- Why do you think it is important for us as disciples of Jesus Christ to be good citizens and obey the laws of the land? (See D&C 58:21.)
---Read Matthew 22:22
silently, looking for how the Pharisees reacted to the Savior’s response. Report
what you find.
II.
Matthew 22:23–34
The Savior teaches the Sadducees about marriage and the Resurrection
---In addition to the Pharisees, the
Sadducees also tried to trap the Savior in His words as He taught in the
temple. Silently read the entry “Sadducees”
in the Bible
Dictionary. Look for what the Sadducees believed and did not believe.
- What beliefs did the Sadducees reject?
- How would you summarize the question the Sadducees asked the Savior?
---The Sadducees intentionally
misapplied an Old Testament custom that was designed to provide for widows (see Deuteronomy 25:5–6; Bible Dictionary, “Levirate marriage”).
They attempted to exaggerate this custom to discredit the doctrine of the
Resurrection.
- How did the Savior respond to the question?
---To help students understand the
Savior’s response, invite a student to read aloud the following statement by
Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
“[Jesus Christ] is not denying but limiting the prevailing
concept that there will be marrying and giving in marriage in heaven. He is
saying that as far as ‘they’ (the Sadducees) are concerned, that as far as
‘they’ (‘the children of this world’) are concerned, the family
unit does not and will not continue in the resurrection. …
“‘Therefore, when they [those who will not, do not, or
cannot live the law of eternal marriage] are out of the world they neither
marry nor are given in marriage’ [D&C 132:16].
“That is, there is neither marrying nor giving in marriage
in heaven for those to whom Jesus was speaking; for those who do not even
believe in a resurrection, let alone all the other saving truths” (Doctrinal
New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965–73], 1:606).
---The Lord revealed many important
truths regarding eternal marriage to the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Read Doctrine and Covenants 132:15–17 looking for what the Lord revealed to Joseph Smith about
marriage.
- Who did the Lord say would not “marry nor [be] given in marriage” (verse 16) in the Resurrection?
- What truth did the Savior teach in Matthew 22:30 and Doctrine and Covenants 132:15–17 about marriage and postmortal life? (Students may use different words, but make sure they identify the following truth: Those who are not sealed by priesthood authority to their spouses in mortality or through proxy ordinances in temples will not be married in the world to come.)
---Read Matthew 22:31–33
and look for what other truths the Savior taught the Sadducees about the
Resurrection.
- What did the Savior say in verse 32 that indicates that the Resurrection is real?
- How did the people respond when they heard the Savior teach these doctrines?
III.
Matthew 22:34–40
The Savior teaches about the two great commandments
---Write in your class notebooks as
many commandments as you can think of in one minute. Report how many
commandments you were able to write.
---Judaism teaches that the law of Moses
contains 613 commandments.
---Read Matthew 22:35–36
looking for the question one of the Pharisees asked the Savior concerning these
commandments.
- What question did the Pharisee ask the Savior?
---Before students look at the
Savior’s answer, invite them to circle a commandment on their list that they
think is the “great,” or most important, commandment. Ask a few students to report
which commandment they circled and explain why they circled it.
- What is the greatest commandment? What is the second greatest commandment? (Explain that these two commandments were found in the law of Moses [see Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18]. Also explain that the Lord’s direction to “love thy neighbor” refers to how we treat others.)
- Why do you think these commandments are considered the greatest commandments?
- What does it mean in verse 40 that “on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets”? (Help students understand that all the commandments God revealed in the law of Moses and through the Old Testament prophets were designed to help the people show their love for God and for their neighbor.)
- If every commandment is designed to help us keep the two great commandments, what principle can we learn from verse 40 about the importance of keeping all of God’s commandments? (After students respond, write the following principle on the board: If we truly love God and love our neighbor as ourselves, we will strive to keep all of God’s commandments.)
---Refer to the list of commandments
you created in their class notebooks. Put a star by the commandments that show
love for God and a square by those commandments that show love for our
neighbor. (Some commandments may be marked with both a star and a square.) Choose
one of the commandments on your list and explain how obeying that commandment
allows us to show our love for God, our love for our neighbor, or both.
- What feelings have you had when you have chosen to obey a particular commandment to show your love for God or for another person?
---Testimony of the principle that
if we truly love God and love our neighbor as ourselves, we will keep all of
God’s commandments.
---Think of a commandment you could
obey more faithfully to show their love for Heavenly Father or for another
person. Set a goal to do so. Write this goal in your class notebooks.
IV.
Matthew 22:41–46
The Savior asks the Pharisees what they think of Christ
---After the Savior successfully
answered the Pharisees’ and Sadducees’ questions, He asked the Pharisees some
questions.
- What questions did Jesus Christ ask the Pharisees?
- How did the Pharisees respond?
---Most Jews knew that Christ, or
the Messiah, would be a descendant of King David. The Pharisees believed the
Messiah would be crowned king of Israel and help them defeat foreign enemies
(such as Rome) and receive their freedom, as King David had done previously. In
Matthew 22:43–46 Jesus taught the Pharisees that
according to their own scriptures, Christ was more than just the son of
David—He was also the Son of God. Or, as later revealed to John the Beloved,
Christ is both “the root and the offspring of David” (Revelation 22:16);
He is both David’s Lord and his descendant.
---Consider how you would answer the
question “What think ye of Christ?”
---Testimony of the Savior.
Scripture Mastery—Matthew 22:36–39
Give students time to write the
words from Matthew 22:36–39 on notecards or small pieces of
paper. Invite students to carry their cards with them and refer to them
periodically throughout the day to help them remember to keep the first and
second commandments.
Commentary
and Background Information
Matthew
22:21. “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s”
The phrase “render therefore unto
Caesar the things which are Caesar’s” in Matthew 22:21 refers to our obligation to obey
civil laws such as paying taxes. However, what do we do if civil laws conflict
with God’s laws? Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
provided the following counsel:
“We will sometimes need to challenge
laws that would impair our freedom to practice our faith, doing so in reliance
on our constitutional rights to the free exercise of religion” (“Balancing Truth and Tolerance,” Ensign, Feb.
2013, 27).
Elder Dallin H. Oaks also
taught that when civil laws allow sinful behavior, we are still bound to obey
God’s laws:
“Our twelfth article of faith states
our belief in being subject to civil authority and ‘in obeying, honoring, and sustaining
the law.’ But man’s laws cannot make moral what God has declared immoral.
Commitment to our highest priority—to love and serve God—requires that we look
to His law for our standard of behavior. For example, we remain under divine
command not to commit adultery or fornication even when those acts are no
longer crimes under the laws of the states or countries where we reside.
Similarly, laws legalizing so-called ‘same-sex marriage’ do not change God’s
law of marriage or His commandments and our standards concerning it” (“No Other Gods,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov.
2013, 75).
Matthew
22:23–30. Marriage in the Resurrection
“An important key to understanding
the Savior’s words is to remember that they were spoken to Sadducees, who ‘say
that there is no resurrection’ (Matthew 22:23). Therefore, the question they
posed to the Savior was insincere—they were not truly interested in knowing
about marriage in the Resurrection. The Savior’s reply that ‘in the
resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage’ (Matthew 22:30; italics added) referred to the
individuals in question, who were Sadducees, for the questioners said that
‘there were with us seven brethren’ (Matthew 22:25; italics added). For those who do
not marry for eternity, marriage does not endure beyond this life (see D&C 132:15–17). In these latter days, the
Lord revealed that marriage can be eternal only if it is entered into according
to His law, performed by one who has authority, and sealed by the Holy Spirit
of Promise (see D&C 132:19).
“Another key to understanding the
Savior’s words is to realize that when the Sadducees referred to the words of Moses (see Matthew 22:24), they were referring to what is
sometimes termed ‘levirate marriage.’ According to the law of Moses, when a man
died leaving his wife childless, his brother was supposed to marry the deceased
man’s wife to provide for her and to raise up children for the deceased man
(see Deuteronomy 25:5; Bible
Dictionary, ‘Levirate marriage’)” (New Testament Student
Manual [Church Educational System manual, 2014], 66–67).
Matthew
22:35–40. The two great commandments
President Ezra Taft Benson said the
following about the first and second great commandments:
“To love God with all your heart,
soul, mind, and strength is all-consuming and all-encompassing. It is no
lukewarm endeavor. It is total commitment of our very being—physically,
mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—to a love of the Lord.
“The breadth, depth, and height of
this love of God extend into every facet of one’s life. Our desires, be they
spiritual or temporal, should be rooted in a love of the Lord. Our thoughts and
affections should be centered on the Lord. …
“Why did God put the first
commandment first? Because He knew that if we truly loved Him we would want to
keep all of His other commandments. …
“When we put God first, all other
things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the
Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the
interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities.
“We should put God ahead of everyone
else in our lives. …
“We bless our fellowmen the most
when we put the first commandment first” (“The Great Commandment—Love the Lord,” Ensign,
May 1988, 4–6; see also Mark 12:28–34).
Matthew
22:45. “If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?”
Elder James E. Talmage of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that Jesus
Christ was Jehovah:
“Jesus the Christ is the Son of
David in the physical way of lineage. … But while Jesus was born in the flesh
as late in the centuries as the ‘meridian of time’ He was Jehovah, Lord and
God, before David, Abraham, or Adam was known on earth” (Jesus the Christ, 3rd
ed. [1916], 552).
Right margin extras
Lead
students through the learning process
Help students better understand and
internalize gospel principles by leading them through the learning process.
Encourage them to search the scriptures for understanding, and help them
discover gospel truths for themselves. Also give students opportunities to
explain the gospel in their own words and to share and testify of what they
know and feel. This will help students not only understand the gospel but feel
its truthfulness in their hearts.
Matthew 22:36–39 is a scripture mastery passage.
Studying scripture mastery passages will help students increase their
understanding of basic doctrines and be prepared to teach them to others. You
may want to suggest that students mark scripture mastery passages in a
distinctive way so they will be able to locate them easily. Refer to the
teaching idea at the end of the lesson to help students with their mastery of
this passage.
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